Fire Begin 2013 Preseason Camp In Ave Maria, Florida

CHICAGO FIRE BEGIN 2013 PRESEASON CAMP IN AVE MARIA, FLORIDA
After two days of medical exams in Chicago, the Fire headed south to begin training camp at Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Fla. During the 10-day training camp from Jan. 20-30 in the Fire will begin preparations for the 2013 season with initial preseason matches against Florida Gulf Coast University on Sunday, Jan. 27 at 3:00 p.m. CT and the Columbus Crew on Wednesday, Jan. 30 at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

The Fire will then head west to Ventura, Calif. where the Men in Red will train from Feb. 2-10 where they will face 2012 MLS Supporters Shield winners San Jose Earthquakes.

The Men in Red will close out preseason from Feb. 13 – 24 in Charleston, S.C. as part of the 2013 Carolina Challenge Cup where they will face 2012 MLS Cup Finalists Houston Dynamo, 2012 USL Pro Champions Charleston Battery and fellow MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

*Training will take place at the Ave Maria North Park
^Training is open to the media. Fire players and coaches will be made available immediately following training. Times are subject to change. Please contact Brendan Hannan at 720.937.8962 for media requests.

FRANK KLOPAS AND PATRICK NYARKO TO BE HONORED AT THE 25TH ANNUAL COMCAST SPORTSNET SPORTS AWARDS
Chicago Fire Head Coach Frank Klopas and midfielder Patrick Nyarko will be among Chicago’s most popular past and present sports figures to receive honors at the 25th Annual Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards to benefit the March of Dimes on Thursday, January 24 at the Hilton Chicago & Towers. Over the past 24 years, the Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards has raised nearly $10 million for the March of Dimes.

For their contributions to the team and the community, Klopas has been named Fire Legend and Nyarko the Fire of the Year. They will join a current player and legend from each of Chicago’s professional sports teams to be honored that night.

With more than 1,200 guests expected to attend, the event will feature a silent auction to raise additional funds for the March of Dimes.

FIRE ROSTER CONTINUES TO TAKE SHAPE THROUGH MLS DRAFTS
As the season draws near, the Fire roster continued to take shape when the Fire selected midfielder Yazid Atouba with the 30th overall selection in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft on Thursday, Jan. 17. The left-footed Cameroonian Youth International, who most recently represented Rainbow FC Bamenda, represented Cameroon in the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Championships.

On Tuesday, Jan. 22, Frank Klopas and the Fire technical staff will have an additional opportunity to add talent to the Fire roster with the 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft. The Fire currently hold the 30th, 49th and 68th picks in the draft.

CHICAGO FIRE MIDFIELDER PAVEL PARDO ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Jan. 19 that midfielder Pavel Pardo has retired from professional soccer. A two-time Mexican World Cup veteran and the second-most capped player in Mexican National Team history brings an end to a 19-year professional career that saw him compete at the top levels in Mexico, Germany and the United States.

Pardo joined the Fire in July 2011 and was instrumental in the turnaround as the Fire made a late-season surge, just missing out on postseason play. Pardo re-signed with the club on Jan. 18, 2012 and lead the Fire to the playoffs for the first time since 2010. In two seasons with the Men in Red, Pardo made 41 regular season appearances, scoring two goals and adding nine assists.

Pardo began his career with hometown Mexican Primera side Club Atlas, where he appeared in 156 matches and recorded seven goals from 1993-98. Following a brief stint with UAG Tecos, Pardo joined Mexican giants Club America for the first of two career stints in 1999. It was with las Aguilas that Pardo made his mark, appearing in 224 matches, scoring 24 goals from 1999-2006 while helping the club to the 2002 Verano and 2005 Clausura championships as well as the 2006 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

His play for America propelled him to Europe, signing with German side Vfb Stuttgart in 2006. While with Die Roten, Pardo appeared in 71 matches, scoring four times while helping the Reds to the 2006-07 Bundesliga title, the club’s first since 1992. He returned to Club America following the 2009 Bundesliga season, going on to play in another 86 matches for las Aguilas through the 2011 Mexican Clausura.

Pardo is the second-most capped player in Mexican National Team history, with 148 appearances for el Tricolor. The central midfielder appeared in seven matches for his country during the 1998 and 2006 FIFA World Cups, helping the side to Round of 16 appearances in both tournaments. Pardo was also a member of the Mexican side that hosted and won the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup and has twice been a part of Mexico’s CONCACAF Gold Cup winning teams in 1998 and 2003.

FIRE OPEN 2013 MLS CAMPAIGN AGAINST TWO-TIME DEFENDING MLS CUP CHAMPIONS LA GALAXY
The Men in Red being their 16th season on the road when they visit two-time defending MLS Cup Champions LA Galaxy at The Home Depot Center on Sunday, March 3 at 4:00 p.m. CT (Univision). The following week the Fire will host New England Revolution for Opening Night at Toyota Park on Saturday, March 9 at 6:30 p.m. CT (NBC Sports Network).

The Fire’s full 2013 schedule can be found at www.Chicago-Fire.com/schedule. The Fire are slated to appear in a total of 16 nationally televised broadcasts throughout its 16th season of MLS play.

Chicago Fire Season Tickets and #cf97withdrawals Winter Packs, which give fans the opportunity to witness the Men in Red in action on Opening Day while donning the four Fire hats and four pairs of Fire gloves included in the pack, are available by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE, via Ticketmaster or by heading to the club’s official website at www.Chicago-Fire.com.

Single game tickets to Chicago Fire matches will go on sale via Ticketmaster starting Monday, Jan. 28 at noon. Only select locations will be available via this sale.